Remote control and supervisory system



Dec. 7, 1943. G. A. BURNS ETAL 2,336,064

REMOTE CONTROL AND SUPERVISQRY SYSTEM Filed Feb. '7 194i 4 Sheets-Sheet l Polarized INVENTOR. George Arthur Burns v Chnstopher Ronald lrgln ATTORNEY Dec, 7, 1943. G. A. BURNS ETAL 2,336,064

REMOTE CONTROL AND SUPERVISORY SYSTEM Filed Feb. 7, 1941- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 To Keysets Fbr Other Substations INVENTOR. George Arfhur Burns Christopher Ron'ald lrgin ATTORNEY 7, 1943; G. A; BURNS ETAL 2,336,064

REMOTE CONTROL AND SUPERVISORY SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 7, 1941 D Em VdE F j [r ,0, $3 fiqaagfi 53% 325% mmomn omo Egg E6 INVENTOK George Arthur Bums BY Christopher Ronald lrqin ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1943 G. A. BURNS EIAL REMOTE CONTROL ANDSUPERVISORY SYSTEM F iled Feb. 7, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .m a W 2 m a m J VBm mm X r 4 H mm n m O." N o aw U 8 0 n2 O t Ex. m v um Nil T m 0mm n QIJF: Q L E n m h n n n m m QBJ E ME fl jk O P m 3& m at; m Q Q ATTDRNEY Patented Dec. 7, 1943 REMOTE CONTROL AND SUPERVISORY SYSTEM George Arthur Burns and Christopher Ronald Irgin, Liverpool, England, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 7, 1941, Serial No. 377,832 In Great Britain March 13, 1940 3 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with improvements in systems for the remote supervision and/or control of electric power transmission equipment or the like and has for its chief object the provision of improved and simplified arrangements suitable for supervising and controlling a number of substations arranged in tandem such as may obtain with railway electrification schemes.

In systems of this kind it is generally thought essential that there should be some definite check on the correctness of the selecting operation before the executive operation is carried out, and in some systems the latter has been dependent on a specific action on the part of the operator, for instance, the pressing of a common open or close button. This arrangement, however, introduces the possibility of a delay of indefinite duration during which the equipment remains set up and the line held.

In the case of tandem operation the sending of signals to one station necessarily means that the other stations are locked out, but it is also important that each station should at all times be able to communicate with the control station without any appreciable delay so as to be able to send in a signal for instance indicating the automatic opening of a circuit breaker thereat. In previous systems this requirement could only be met by the provision of special priority knockdown equipment which would take over the line in case of urgent signals to be sent. But such equipment adds undesirable complications and also sensibly increases the expense. The chief object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a simpler and cheaper solution without any appreciable sacrifice in the way of facilities provided.

According to the invention, in a remote control and supervisory system for the control of circuit breakers or like devices at any one of a plurality of substations connected in tandem to a control station, in which during the operation of effecting a change in the position or condition of one of the devices in a substation from the control station the possibility of any substation communicating with the control station is temporarily withdrawn, the said operation (which involves selecting the required device, checking the selection, effecting the desired change and signalling back that the change has been effected) is arranged to take place automatically in response to a suitable initiating operation so that the possibility of any substation communieating with the control station is restored after a predetermined short interval.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of one method of carrying it into effect, reference being had to the accompanying drawings comprising Figs. 1 to 5, of which Figs. 1 and 2 show the circuits of apparatus at the control room while Figs. 3 and 4 show the apparatus at a substation which, in common with the number of like substations, is connected to a two-conductor signal line extending from the control room. The four sheets of drawings should be arranged as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the control station shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is connected to substation I shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by a two-conductor line l8/l8, while substation I in turn is connected to substation 2 (not shown) by a two-conductor line 20/2 I. It will be appreciated that substation 2 as well as each of the remaining substations is like that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, having a pair of incoming conductors corresponding to l 8/ I9 and a pair of outgoing conductors corresponding to 20/2l. Thus thesubstations are connected in series, and, at the one farthest from the control station, the conductors corresponding to 2G/2l are connected together to complete a loop control circuit extending through all substations. For purposes of description, it will be assumed that there are nine substations, each having 39 circuit breakers to be controlled.

Above the horizontal dotted line in Fig. 1 is shown certain control equipment which is individual to substation I; it will be appreciated that there is similar control equipment (not shown) individual to each of the remaining eight substations concerned, and that the apparatus shown in the balance of Figs. 1 and 2 is common to these nine units of individual control equipment. All nine units connect in identical fashion to the common leads 8-l'|, inclusive, while each unit has three additional conductors such as 5, 6 and 1, leading to switch banks S02, SD2 and SD 3.

The individual control equipment for each substation includes a keyset comprising 39 circuit breaker selection keys lBSK--39BSK, inclusive, and a pair of lamps COL and CCL for each key. Associated with each set of selection keys is a selection correct lamp SCL, a close key such as CKI, and an open key such as OKI. Further, each keyset has a relay such as ISK for controlling the operation of switches SC and SD. Attention 'is directed to the fact that when relay ISK is deenergized it connects positive potential over resting armature I slat and conductor l to contact E in the contact bank associated with wiper $02. In like manner the corresponding relay in the control equipment individual to substation 2 connects positive potential to contact 9 in the same contact bank, while that for substation 3 connects positive potential to contact 8, and so on, the relay for the last. sulo-.

station (i. e., substation 9) connecting positive potential to contact 2. Thus these nine relays in their normal condition maintain positive po tential connected to contacts 2-102, inclusive, of the bank associated with wiper $02; the reasonfor this will be made clear presently;

Assuming now that it is desired to close circuit breaker l at substation I, the circuit breaker selection key IBSK will be operated. This, at contact lBSKI, connects positive to contact 2 of the bank associated with wiper M3, and at contact |BSK-8, connects positive over the common conductor it to contact. 40; in the bank associated, with wiper S4; The closing of contact. iBSK-Z completes an obvious circuit for energizing relay ISK, Relay ISK accordingly operates armature. lslc3', thereby disconnecting positive from contact E0 in the bank associated with wiper SCZ, and connecting positive'over conductor 6 to contact 2 in the bank associated with. wiper SDZ; At contact lsk2, a circuit is prepared for the selection correot lamp- SOL, and the closing of contact Iskl completes a circuit over common lead I! to energize relay KA. Relay KA operates, and at contact, kal, prepares a locking circuit for relays K, CR0, and OPE; at contact kaZ, it prepares an energizing circuit for rel y BP.

No further operation will take. place until the control room attendant momentarily operates either the close key CKl or the open key OKL Since in the present case it is desired to close a breaker, the former key will be: operated. This establishes an obvious circuit over common conductor l and contact bul for energizing the upper winding of relay CRO. Relay CRO operates, and closes a locking circuit over its lower winding, contacts oral and kal, thereby to re-' main operated independently of key CKI. At

' contact. croZ, circuits are completed for energizingrelays KR and PT, the circuit for relay KR extending from positive at contact cro2 over. contact kl and the winding of relay KR to nega-- tive, while the circuit for relay PT extends from positive at. contact. croZ over wiper $02 in position, I, wiper 0P2 in position. I, and the winding of relay B1 to negative.

. Belay PT o tes, nd. at armatur pt pre pares a circuit for connecting, positive to. con.- ductor it; at. armature ptl, it prepares a. circuit for connecting negative through resistor to. conductor til, while: at. armature hi3, it prepares a circuit for magnet SCM of the switch SC. Re-v lay KR, upon operating, completes. a circuit at contact krl for thewinding of relay KRM. At contact ZcrZ it closes a circuit. for the winding of slow-to-release relay SR, and at contact 7013 it. establishes the, following circuit .for relay E: positive, contact. 71213, contact bpl, winding of relay E, the upper winding of relay K, and negative.

Upon energizing, relay KRM operates armature krmi', to prepare a further point in the before-mentioned circuit for connecting positive to 4 conductor 18, while at contact IcrmZ, it completes the circuit prepared over armature pt! for connecting negative through resistor YB to conductor !9. Relay SR operates, closing an obvious circuit for energizing its slow-to-release relief relay SRR, which in turn prepares a circuit for relay SH at contact srrl, and, at contact srrZ, completes a circuit for the winding of relay BU. Relay BU, upon operating, opens contacts bul and M2, thereby to guard against the possibility "of any further operation of relays CR0 and OPE in the event that a close key or open key in the control equipment individual to any substation should be operated. At contact bu3 the homing circuits. for switches S, SD, SC, and M are opened.

Returning now to the circuit completed over the winding of relay E and the upper winding of relay K upon the operation of relay KR: Relay K is unable to operate in series with relay E, but relay E comes up, thereby completing the following circuit at contact e3: positive, operated armature pt], contact e3, operated armature krmi, conductor 13, relay N, resting armature senl, conductor 20, the loop which extends through the; remaining tandem-connected substations, conductor 25, resting armature senZ, relay R, conductor 19, contact krm2, operated armature m2, resistor YB, and negative. At the same time relay E completes the above circuit, it also energizes magnet SCM of the reverse drive switch SC over the following circuit: positive, contact 61, operated armature pt3, resting armature ptal, magnet SCM, and negative. Still further, relay E completes a circuit for the winding of its interrupter relay 13? over contacts e2 and ka2. The latter relay operates, and at contact bpl interrupts the above-traced energizing circuit for relay E, whereupon relay E releases, and at contact e2 opens the circuit for relay BP. Accordingly relay BP releases, closing contact hp! and hence causing. relay E to reoperate over its original energizing circuit. Relays E and BP continue to interact in the manner indicated, causing armature. e! periodically to interrupt the. flow of current to the magnet SCM, while contactet periodically interrupts the flow of current over the loop circuit extending through the substations. These interruptions occur at, a frequency of. approximately ten. per second.

Reviewing the effect of the operation of the selection key IBSK and the close push key CKI, relays lSK, KA, CRO, KR, PT, KRM, SR, SRR, BU, E and BP operate in rapid succession, the eiiect of which is to initiate the sending out to all the substations on the lines [8 and IS a train comprising 50 impulses. This impulse train is made up of two portions, the first portion of ten impulses comprising the station code and serving to select the station to which the subsequent impulses are to be directed, while the second portion of 40 impulses serves to select. the piece of apparatus, in this case a circuit, breaker, at the given substation.

Upon each interruption of its circuit by contact ei the magnet SCM restores, thereby advancing the wipers of switch SC one step. It will be remembered that although the operation of relay lSK has disconnected positive potential from contact ii! in the bank associated with wiper SCZ, such potential still is connected to contacts 2 to 9, inclusive, by the corresponding relays in the eight remaining units of individual control equipment; therefore, during the first nine steps of switch vSC, relay PT will remain energized via a circuit which extends over the winding of relay PT, wiper 0P2 in position I, and wiper SC! in positions 2 to 9. After the ninth step of switch SC, however, relay PT releases due to the absence of positive potential upon contact III of the bank associated with wiper SC2, and accordingly armatures ptI, p252 and pt3 return to normal;

Armature m3 interrupts the circuit for magnet SCM bringing switch SC to a halt, and at the same time itprepares a circuit for magnet SDM.

Contact e3 has now interrupted the flow of current over the substation signalling circuit nine times, and upon the next energization of relay E it causes the current to flow over that circuit in the reverse direction due to armatures ml and pt2 having been restored to normal during the ninth interruption. Also, upon the next energization of relay E, contact eI completes the following circuit for energizing magnet SDM of the reverse drive switch SD: positive, contact eI resting armature p123, resting armature ptaZ, magnet SDM and negative.

Relay E continues to interact with relay 3?, and, upon each subsequent deenergization, opens contact 63 to interrupt the current flowing in the reverse direction over conductors I8 and I9; simultaneously with the first such interruption, contact eI interrupts the circuit for magnet SDM, causing the wipers of switch SD to advance one step. Accordingly the following circuit is completed: positive, operated armature Isk3', wiper SD2 in position 2, winding of relay PTA and negative. Relay PTA operates armature ptaZ, opening the circuit for magnet SDM to bring switch SD to a halt and preparing a circuit for,

magnet SM. At contact ptal a circuit is prepared for magnet MM.

7 It will be appreciated that had the circuit breaker selection key corresponding to anycircuit breaker in substation 2 been operated, positive potential would not have been connected to the second contact in bank associated with wiper SD2 by relay ISK as in the present case; instead, in the individual control equipment for substation 2, the relay corresponding to relay ISK would have been operated, connecting positive potential to contact 3 in the bank associated with wiper SD2, so that relay PTA would have operated to halt switch SD only after the latter switch had taken two steps. In all cases, the number of steps taken by switch .SD is the same as the number of the substation having the circuit breaker which is desired to be controlled.

Relay E has now produced one interruption of the current flowing in the reverse direction over the substation signalling circuit. Upon the next energization of relay E, a circuit is completed for magnet SM of the reverse drive switch S: positive, contact el, resting armature pt3, operated-"armature ptaZ, magnet SM,- and negative. This circuit thereafter is interrupted by contact eI inunison with the subsequent interruptions of the reverse current flow in the substation signalling circuit under control of contact e3, causing the magnet SM to step switch S in unison with such interruptions.

When wiper S4 reaches contact 40, the following circuit is completed: positive, contact IBSK-3, common lead 9, wiper S4 in position 40, wiper P2 in position I, winding of relay PT and negative. Responsive to its energization over this circuit, relay PT operates armatures ptI, ptZ, and p123. The operation of armatures ml and M2 is effective, upon the next energiza-' tion of relay E, to cause current to flow over the substation signalling circuit in the same direction as originally, and, at the same time, magnet MM of the reverse drive switch M is energized over the following circuit: positive, contact e.I, operated armature p213, operated armature ptal, wiper SC3 in position III, wiper SD3 in position 2, wiper SD4 in position 2, conductor 5, magnet MM, and negative.

The next deenergization of relay E causes contact e3 to interrupt the current flowing over conductors 3/ I9 and causes contact eI to interrupt the above traced circuit for magnet MM. Accordingly, the wipers of switch M advance one step, whereupon the following circuit is completed: positive, contact IBSK-I, wiper M3 in position 2, common conductor II, upper winding of relay K, and negative. Relay K operates, and closes a locking circuit for itself over its lower winding, and contacts k2 and MI. At contact IcI, it interrupts the circuit for relay KR which restores and at contact Icr3 opens a further point in the circuit for relay E, thereby to prevent the latter relay from reenergizing under control of its interrupter relay BP. The release of relay KR also opens the circuit for relay KRM at contact krl and that for relay SR at contact k1-2. Relay KRM restores, and at armature lcrml reconnects relays O and I into the substation signalling circuit in readiness to receive the check signal from substation I. After a delay due to its slug, relay SR also releases, and opens the circuit for relay SRR; the latter relay remains operated for a further interval due to its slug, and.

hence before it has an opportunity to restore to normal, the check signal will ordinarily have been transmitted from the substation, as will now be described.

It will be remembered that under control of switch SC, there have been nine interruptions of current flowing in the original direction in the substation signalling circuit, followed by one interruption of reverse current under control of switch SD, then by 39 additional interruptions of reverse current under control of switch S and finally by one interruption of normal current under control of switch M. Considering the efiect of these operations upon the equipment at the variou substations, attention is directed to the fact that each substation has a magnetically polarized relay such as N, which operates only when energized by current flowing over the signalling circuit in the normal direction, and a further magnetically polarized .relay such as R, which operates only when energized by current flowing over the signalling circuit in the reverse direction. Accordingly the relays N operate initially and respond to the first nine interruptions.

Considering the operations at substation I, relay N upon energizing closes contact nI, thereby energizing the upper winding of relay S; it also completes the following circuit for relay HRR: positive, contact 11!, wiper A3 in position I,

the lower winding of relay HRR and negative.

Relay HRR operates armature hn-Z thereby to open the homing circuit for switches A, B and C, and at contact hrrI it energizes magnet AM of the reverse drive switch A. The circuit for magnet AM is as follows: positive, contact nI, wiper contact pil', while at contact m2 it energizes thej slow-to-releaserelayI-IR; relay HR operates, and;

atcontact hrl completesa; holding circuit for relay I-IRR.

Relay N now releases 9 times. Relay S, how ever, being slow-to-release, remains operated between. successive restorations of contact nI, and accordingly maintains relays PI, HR and ERR operated. Upon each opening of contact nl, the above-traced circuit for magnet AM is interrupted, causing the. wipers of switchA to advance one step. At the end of the first interruption, the circuit. for magnet AM is recompleted over wiper A3; in position 2. Similarly, after the second interruption, the magnet circuit will be reestablished over wiper A3 in position 3; then, after third interruption over wiper A3 in position A, and so on until, following the ninth interruption, wiper A3 restsupon contact. In.

If relay N were to reoperate following the ninth interruption of the substation signalling circuit, a circuit: would be completed from positive over contact nI wiper A3 in position iii, the jumper (shown dotted), lower winding of relay CO to negative. Relay N does not operate after the ninth interruption, however, due to the next current flow over the signalling circuit being in the reverse direction, and hence relay CO is not operated over the above-mentioned circuit. Instead, relay R comes up, operating contact TI. This contact completes an obvious circuit for maintaining relay S operated, and also establishes the following circuit for reenergizing magnet AM: positive, contact rI wiper A2 in position Ii), the jumper (shown dotted), contacts hrrI and 002, magnet AM, and negative. The latter circuit is opened by contact rl upon the first interruption of the reverse current flow in the substation signalling circuit, and accordingly the wipers of switch A are advanced to position II.

It will be self-evident that the strapping and cross connections between the contact bank associated with wipers A2 and A3 are such that switch A will reach position II only if the station selecting code comprises nine interruptions of current flowing in the normal direction followed by one interruption of reverse current. Had the current in the signalling circuit been reversed after only eight interruptions, for example, contact rI upon closing would have completed a circuit over wiper A2 in position 9 for energizing the lower winding of relay CO. Relay CO, upon operating, would then lock over its upper winding and contacts coI and hri, while at contact (:02 it would open the circuit for magnet AM, thereby preventing switch A from following the remaining interruptions of the current flowing in the signalling circuit.

Each substation has a difi'erent code, the

strapping and cross connection between the banks associated with wipers A2 and A3 in each case corresponding to the code for the station in question; thus whenever any substation code is transmitted, the switch A at the substation having that code will reach position I I while the corresponding switches at all other substations will fail to reach position I I, due to the operation of relay CO either over wiper A2 or over wiper A3, as described.

Returning to the operations at substation i: When the reverse current flow in the signalling circuit is resumed after the first interruption, the following circuit is completed for magnet BM of the reverse drive switch Br positive, contact rt, wiper A2 in position I I, magnet EM and nega' tive. Thirty-nine additional interruptions of the reverse current flow in the signalling circuit now occur in succession, and, upon each of these, relay R opens the circuit for magnet BM at contact TI, causing the wipers of switch B to advance one step; accordingly after the last interruption, the wipers stand in position 50.

It will be remembered that the current which flows in the signalling circuit after this last interruption is in the same direction as the original current, so that relay N again energizes. Contact n! maintains relay S operated over its upper winding as before, and completes the following circuit for magnet CM of the reverse drive switch C: positive, contact 'nI, wiper A3 in position II, magnet CM, and negative. The latter circuit is opened by contact u! when now the current in the signalling circuit is interrupted for the final time, and therefore switch C advances to position 2. The prolonged opening of contact nI also causes the slow-to -release relay S to re store after an interval, whereupon the following circuit is established: positive, resting armature s'I, contacts pil, wiper B4 in position Gil, wiper Ci in position 2, the winding of relay H (and, in parallel therewith, the lower winding of relay HD) and negative.

Relay HD operates and immediately locks up over its upper winding and contacts hdI and hrrt. At contact hd3 a circuit is prepared for the circuit breaker operating solenoids ICIR- 3301B and IOIR-39OIR; at contact hdZ a a circuit is prepared for sending out the check signals, and at contact hd4, an obvious circuit is completed for energizing relay SEN. The latter relay operates armatures senl and senZ, disconnecting the subsequent substations from the common signalling circuit, and further preparing for the sending of the check signal.

Relay H operates, and at contact hl establlishes the following circuit for magnet AM of the reverse drive switch A: positive, operated armature I'm-2, wiper A4 in position II, contact hl, magnet AM and negative. Contact n2 also closes, operating relay REC. The latter relay closes contacts real and recZ to short-circuit the windings of relays N and R, respectively. At armatures mot and reed, the following circuit is com pleted for initiating the transmission of the check signal: positive, contact hd2, resting armature senZ, contact rec2, conductor I9, the windings of relays O and I in series, resting armature krml, conductor I8, contact reel, operated armature senI, contact 1604, resting armature r212, resistor Y0, and negative. It will be noted that the polarity of the check signal (i. e., the direction in which current flows over the signalling circuit) depends upon whether relay RV is operated or at normal. The winding of this relay in the present. instance is connected over wiper C2 in position 2 to contact ICBC; due to circuit breaker I being open, contact I CBC is also open, and hence relay RV remains at normal.

The above-mentioned restoration of armature $1 to normal also opens the circuit for the slowto-release relay PI which restores after an interval. Thereupon it opens the circuit for slow-torelease relay HR at contact 122, and at contact pil it opens the above traced circuit for relays H and HD. The latter relay remains operated over its upper winding, but relay H releases, opening the circuit for magnet AM at contact hi, and hence causing the wipers of switch A to advance to position I2. Contact h2 opens the circuit for relay REC which releases, thereby re--' storing armatures rec3 and read to terminate the check signal, while contacts recI and rec2 remove the short-circuits from relays N and R.

Returning now to the control station, it will be remembered that when the apparatus thereat finished generating circuit breaker selection code, relay KR released, interrupting the circuit for slow-to-release relay SR by opening contact kr2. Then, after a delay due to its slug, relay SR restored, opening the circuit for relay SRR. The latter relay is also provided with a slug, and hence, before it can restore, the check signal is transmitted from substation I as has been described, indicating that a correct selection has been efiected; this signal is received by the oppositely polarized relays and I, the current flow through their windings in the present case being in such a direction as to operate only relay 0. Thereupon a circuit is completed over contacts oI and srrl for energizing relay SH, while at contact 02 the following circuit is also established: positive, contact 02, common conductor I3, wiper MI in position 2, windings of the polarized latching relay ICON, Wiper M2 in position 2, common conductor I- I, resistance YF, and negative. Relay ICON does not change the position of its armature Iconl when energized over this circuit, and hence the circuit breaker open lamp COL remains lighted.

Relay SH, upon operating, completes an obvious circuit for relay SR at contact shI, and the latter relay thereupon closes contact srI to prevent relay SRR from, releasing. At contact shZ a circuit is etablished over common conductor I2 and contact IskZ for lighting the selection correct lam SCL, while armature sh3 completes a circuit over its front contact, wiper OPI in position I, and interrupter contact 0pm for energizing magnet 0PM of the reverse drive switch OP. The magnet operates and by opening contact 0pm interrupts its own circuit, whereupon the wipers of switch OP are advanced one step. This opens the circuit for relay PT which extended over wiper 0P2 in position I, and the relay therefore releases.

Upon termination of the check signal, relay 0 restores, opening the circuit for the winding of relay SH at contact oI. Relay SH accordingly restores, opening the circuit for slow-torelease relay SR at contact ml and opening the circuit for the selection correct lamp at contact sh2. The restoration of armature sh3 to normal completes a circuit over its associated front contact, wiper OPI in position 2, and interrupter contact 0pm, for again energizing magnet OPM. Upon operation, the magnet interrupts its circuit by opening contact 0pm, and hence advances the wipers of switch 0? to contact 3. Thereupon a circuit is completed over wipers OPI and 0P4 for operating magnet 0PM self-interruptedly until the Wipers of switch 0P reach position 49. When wiper 0P3 reaches contact 3 an obvious circuit is established for energizing the winding of relay OPB.

Relay OPB operates, and by closing contact opbI maintains relay SR operated. At contact opbZ a circuit is completed for the winding of relay KRM, and at contact opb3 a circuit is prepared for sending the operate signal to the substation. Relay KRM operates, thereby establishing the following circuit to initiate transmission of this signal: negative, resistance YB, resting armature ptI, contact opb3, operated armature lcrml, conductor I8, relay N at substation I, operated armature senI, resting armature 1e03, operated armature sen2, relay R, conductor I9,

contact krm2, resting armature m2, and positive. It will be noted that the operate" signal in this instance constitutes current flowing over the substation signalling circuit in what has been referred to as the reverse direction, so that relay R, but not relay N, will operate in response thereto.

When wiper 0P3 reaches contact 25, the circuit for relay OPB is opened. This relay restores and ends the transmission of the operate signal by opening contact opb3; it also opens the circuits for relays KRM and SR at contacts opbZ and opbI, respectively. Relay SR remains operated for an interval due to its slug, but relay KRM restores at once, reconnecting relays O and I to the substation signalling circuit by returning armature krml to normal.

Considering now the effect of the operate signal upon the equipment at substation I, relay R Will operate in response thereto, as previously mentioned. The closing of contact rI energizes the lower winding of relay S, and the latter relay in turn closes contact sI to operate relay PI. It will be remembered that relay HR has remained operated due to its slug since the opening of contact p22 a short interval earlier, and hence the present reoperation of relay PI prevents relay HR from restoring. Under control of relay HR, relays HRR, HD and SEN have also remained energized.

The closing of contact rI completes the following circuit: positive, contact rI, wiper A2 in position I2, wiper B6 in position 40, solenoid ICIR, contact M13 and negative. Solenoid I CIR upon energization closes circuit breaker I, and at the same time establishes a circuit over contact ICBC, wiper C2 in position 2, and the winding of relay RV. Relay RV operates. When relay R now restores at the end of the operate signal, it opens the circuit for solenoid ICIR at contact TI, but it will be appreciated that the circuit breaker nevertheless remains in its new position. The restoration of contact rI to normal also causes relay S to release, whereupon armature sI completes a previously traced circuit for energizing the winding of relay H. Relay H operates and, by closing contact h2, operates relay REC. The latter relay thereupon initiates transmission of the check back signal by completing the following circuit: positive, contact hdZ, operated armature 1112, contact rec l, operated armature senI, contact recI, conductor I8, resting armature krmI, relays I and O, conductor I9, contact 1e02, operated armature m2, operated armature rec3, operated armature rvl, resistance Y0 and negative.

It will be noted that the check back signal is identical to the check signal previously transmitted from substation I, except that it is of opposite polarity, i. e., due to relay RV now being operated the current flows over the signalling circuit in a direction opposite to that in which it flowed in the case of the check signal.

The restoration of armature sl to normal opens the circuit for relay PI, which releases after an interval due to its slug. By opening contact pz'l, this causes relays H and REC to restore in the order named, as previously described, and. hence terminates transmissionof the check back signal in the same way that the check" signal was terminated. The release of relay PI also opens the circuit for slow-to-release relay HR at contact p22, so that after an interval relay HR restores. This in turn opens contact hrI,.causing relay HRR to release, Relay HRR interrupts the holding circuit for relay HD at contact h rrt, whereupon the latter relay also releases, opening contact mi l to cause relay SEN to release.

Upon the restoration of relay HRR to normal, a homing circuit for switch A is completed: po si tive, resting armature hrrZ, wiper Al in position l2, interrupter contact am, magnet AM, and negative. Magnet AM operates self-interruptedly in this circuit, advancing switch A step by step until wiper AI reaches contact I. There the circuit for magnet AM is interrupted, bringing switch -A to a halt; at the same time the following circuit is established: positive, resting armature hrrZ, wiper Al in position I, the operated off normal contact CONS of switch C, interrupter contact 'cm, magnet CM, and negative. Magnet CMoper ates self-interruptedly 'in this circuit, advancing the Wipers of switch C step by step until they reach normal. When this occurs the off normal contact CONS is restored, opening the circuit to magnet CM and thereby'bringing switch C to a halt. "Restoration of contact CONS also establishes a homing circuit for switch B: positive, resting armature hrr2, wiper'Al in position Loft normal contact CONS, the operated o'ii normal contact BONS of switch 'B, interrupter contact bm, magnet 'BM, to negative. Magnet BM now operates self-interr'uptedly in this circuit, ad-'- vancing the wipers of switch B step by step to their home position. When they reach homeoi'f normalcontact'BONS restores, opening the circuit for magnet BM andhence halting switch B. All cf the relays and switches at the substation have now "been returned to normal.

Considering the'efiecto'f the check back si nal upon the equipment at the control station, it will be clear that this operates relay I but does not operate relay'O. Contact il completes aarcuit over contactsrrl for reener'giizng relay SH. Relay SH operates contact *sh'l thereby aminestablishinga circuit for relay SR. Contact 3712 lights the selection correct lamp 'SCL once more, while armature "sh'3 disconnect's positive potential from contacts "49'and 50 of the bank associated with wiper 0P4, it "being understood that this occurs before wiper 0P4 reachescoi'rtact 48. I V

The-operation of relay I also completes tlieiollowing circuit: positivecont'a'ct i2, commoncondu'ctor f4, Wiper'M2 in'position 2 the windings of the polarized latching relay ICON, wiperMl "in position'Lco'mmon conductor l3, resistance YE, and negative. When'thus' energized, relay ICON reverses its armatureic'onl, thereby extinguisliing the circuit breaker open larnp'COLan'd lighting the circuit breaker closed lamp'CCL.

When relay I restores at'the end of the 'check back signal, the circuit for relay 'ICON'is opened at contact 1'2, but it will be understoodthat the relay nevertheless maintains its armature lc'onl in its new position. Contactil opens the circuit for relay SH, which restores. At contacts'hil, the

circuit for 'slow to-release relay SR is opened,

while at contact sh2, the selection correct lamp SCL is extinguished. The'restoration of armature sh3 to normal reconnects positivepote'ntial to contacts 49 and 50 "of the bank associated with wiper 0P4; if this does not occur before the wiper reaches :contact 49, the "self interrupted operation'of switch OP will be halted until 'it "does occur, and then will be resum'ed until'switch OP reaches its normal po'sitiorn Y It will be'appreciated'that wipers 0P2 andvOPii have to make-a complete revolution, 1. e.,"fi fty' steps, beioreagain reaching normal position.

greater no circuits arecbmpietee in positions zs -ae. however, t ere is no need to provide aceincnai Wipers at 180 as must be done with wipers OPI anaor l. V The circuit for 'sicw-to rdease reiay "SR having been opened at contact shl, this restores after an interval andop'eh's the circuit for may SRR at contact sri, causing the latter relay to release after a further interval, The opening of c' nract then causes rely so also to reprise, ere upcntne following circuit is established? positive, cbhtabt b'it3, Wiper 1'11 position 49, interruptecontact 'sm, mag'netSM, andnegative. The magn'et operates selfeinterruptedly in this circuit, adi- Van'cirrg switch S step by step until the wiper S l reac es-cont ct I. There the 'switchfhaltsjand a homing'cir cjuit for switchfSD is completed: 'posiconta t Hug, wiper "s1 in posit on 1, wi er SD'i in position 2, interrupter'contact ram, maehet SDM and negative. Magnet SDM -operates se'lfqnterruptedly in this circuit ui itil wiper 'SDi reaches normal, and then stops. 'The following namin circuit for switch SC has now beene'stab- 'li'sh'ed: positive, contact 12103, wiper SI in position 1 wiperSDI in position l,wiper SCI in position I'D, interrupter contact 3cm, magnet SCM and negative. Magnet SDM operates self-interruptedly in this circuituntil wiper SCI reaches normal, whereupon the switch halts "and -compi tes the 'foliow'ir g circuit: positive, contact 'liut wipefrfsi in pos tion-1, wiper SDI inpositidn 'I, wip'e'rSCl in positionfl, common conductorlll, operated "off normal Contact MONSI, interrupter conta t-mini, magnet and negative, Magiret MMoperatesfself interruptedly in this circuit man switch reaches normal; when this occurs the {circuit opened by operation of offnor'm'al'co'ntact 'MONS'I to bring the switch to a halt.

Thecircuitbreaker selection ke'y "IB'SK nowwm be returned to normal by the "control room at, tendan't, causing relay 'ISKt'o release, Whichgby opening contact ls'kl, wins-150 releaserela y Accordingly contact lqal OpeiisJcausiIigTeIays K and'C-ROto restore. an of theequiprrientatthe 'controfstation nowisfat normal.

Shouldit be desired to i open a circuit breaker aeasubstanongtheappropriateseiecuonreread the "Opi1fkey OK. will be atliated'and the en'- suingoperati'o-ns upftdthe ei'iten'sio'n ofthe operate pulse to I the substation =wi11 be the "sameas already described except for the fact that r'elay ORE will be perated instead of relay C'Rb. l-lence'when switchol? is set inl operation at the control jroein fon "the "receipt of the check puis'e', relay-Fl?will be-"operated over Contact ope3and wi'per'OPTah'd willinitiatethe "sending" or ailor in'al' pulse'toiltre substation 'so thatreiay N will be operated, 'RelayN inoperating contact 12'! will apply positive o've'r wiper "A3 'in position 3 I 2 and wiper B5 in position-'40 "(assurning'that circuit breaker-N0. lf'is beih'ghontmlled) to "operate the open solenoid ifl'lRassociated with this-particular circuit breaker, which f-wi-ll *tnereupcnbe charigjeidfoverot' the "ope'r'itposition. 'iThesubsequent check back operati-o'n of this-"changeover "follows en a e line's already describedexcept that with relay- RV normal; relay O1, is'operated 'at th'e controlroom'andciian-ges over the' indicatorieiay ICQN'to th cpem position-"shown whereupon the open-lamp'-COL"is-lit.

The operations in response" to the actuation of other s'el'ectio' keys vv-ill be radnyappmcard r omexamsauon "of-the drawings.

"Further operations such as '*those obtaining when a circuit breaker at a substation changes position automatically due to local conditions thereat and telephone communication to and from substations may be effected along lines wellknown to those versed in the remote supervisroy control art, and further information in regard thereto may be obtained from a study of Br. Patent No. 375,325, issued to Percy F. Gunning et al., which discloses an earlier form of system operating on the same fundamental principles as the one described, herein but not suitable for the tandem operation of substations.

We claim:

1. In a remote control system, a control station, a substation connected to said control station by a signalling circuit, a plurality of devices at said substation, means at said control station for transmitting over said circuit to said substation a train of impulses of one polarity and a train of impulses of another polarity, polarized means at said substation for registering the impulses of said one polarity, other polarized means at said substation for registering the impulses of said other polarity, means controlled by one of said trains of impulses for selecting one of said devices in accordance with the number of impulses in that train, means at the substation operated after both of said trains have been received for determining if the total number of impulses received in said two trains is a predetermined number and, if it is, for initiating the transmission of a check back signal to said control station, means for terminating the transmission of said signal after an interval, means at said control station operated responsive to the termination of said signal for initiating the transmission of an operate signal to said substation, and means at said substation for operating the selected device responsive to the receipt of said operate signal.

2. In a remote control system, a control station, a plurality of substations connected in tandem to said control station by a common signalling circuit, a plurality of devices at each of said substations, a transmitter at said control station for transmitting over said common circuit four impulse trains each comprising a variable number of impulses, said transmitter including means whereby the sum of the impulses in the first train and the second train equals a predetermined number and the sum of the impulses in the third train and the fourth train equals a predetermined number, said transmitter also including means whereby the polarity of the impulses in said first train is different from that of the impulses in said second train and the polarity of the impulses in said third train is different from that of the impulses in said fourth train, means controlled conjointly by said first and second impulse trains for selecting one of said substations in accordance with the number of impulses in said first train, and means controlled conjointly by said third and fourth impulse trains for selecting one of said devices in the selected substation in accordance with the number of impulses in said third train and for automatically operating the selected device.

3. In a remote control system, a control station, a plurality of substations connected in tandem to said control station by a common signalling circuit, a plurality of devices at each of said substations, means at said control station for transmitting over said common circuit a first impulse train comprising a variable number of impulses, a second impulse train comprising a number of impulses complementary to the number of impulses in said first train, a third impulse train comprising a variable number of impulses, and a fourth impulse train comprising a number of impulses complementary to the number of impulses in said third train, whereby the sum of the impulses in said first and second trains equals a predetermined number and the sum of the impulses in said third and fourth trains equals a predetermined number, two relays at each of said substations, one of said relays responsive to the impulses of said first train but not to the impulses of said sec-' ond train, the other of said relays responsive to the impulses of said second train but not to the impulses of said first train, an automatic switch at each substation operated step-by-step under control of said relays at that substation in accordance with the impulses in said first and second trains of impulses, two contact banks on each of said switches, each said bank having an tain contacts in one bank of the switch at that substation and also connected to certain contacts in the other bank of the switch at that substation so that said last relay will be operated over one or the other of the wipers of said switch by the potential applied thereto unless said first train of impulses comprises a predetermined number of impulses, means at each substation effective only if said last relay at that substation is not operated during the receipt of said first or second impulse train, said last means controlled conjointly by said third and fourth impulse trains for selecting one of said devices at that substation in accordance with the number of impulses in said third train and for automatically operating the selected device.

GEORGE ARTHUR BURNS. CHRISTOPHER RONALD IRGIN. 

